Flexible Patents (Class 219/549)
  • Patent number: 6093910
    Abstract: A heated vehicle seat is brought forth which includes a first bus bar of conductive ink applied to either the vehicle seat cushion or to its cover. The conductive ink can be applied directly to the seat cushion or cover, or the conductive ink can be applied to a noncellulosic fabric substrate which is then connected with the seat cushion or cover. A second bus bar of conductive ink is also applied. Between and connecting the two bus bars is a resistive pattern of a conductive ink. The heated vehicle seat has a high thermal reaction time and generates heat at a position closer to the vehicle seat occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Tachi-S Engineering, USA Inc.
    Inventors: Brian McClintock, David W. Gaines
  • Patent number: 6084207
    Abstract: An ice and snow melting system includes at least one sensor configured for sensing a temperature or moisture associated with an ambient environment and providing a signal indicative thereof. A heater for melting the ice and snow includes a heater wire, a layer of insulation substantially surrounding the heater wire, and a conductive shield substantially surrounding the layer of insulation. A ground fault circuit interrupter is coupled with the shield of the heater. The ground fault circuit interrupter detects a ground fault condition between the heater wire and the conductive shield and provides a signal indicative thereof. An automatic controller is connected to the at least one sensor. The controller includes heater control circuitry receiving each of the sensor signal and the ground fault circuit interrupter signal. The heater control circuitry selectively controls operation of the heater dependent upon the sensor signal and the ground fault circuit interrupter signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: MSX, Inc.
    Inventor: Thaddeus M. Jones
  • Patent number: 6078026
    Abstract: A disposable blanket for warming a patient including a power cord with a plug connected to the blanket, a second cord connected to the power cord and the blanket; a wire matrix connected to the power cord and the second cord; a power source; and a thermocouple. The blanket is plugged into a portable case containing the power source. The blanket is thrown away after use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Inventor: Arlen C. West
  • Patent number: 6066164
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating device (1), particularly for heating and/or maintaining the temperature of a skin surface with a depth effect on partial areas of a human body. The latter has at least one heat transfer element (2) comprising a heating element (3) and an energy supply device connected by an energy transfer device to the heat transfer element (2), and preferably a control and/or switching device (9). In order to supply the heating element (3) with energy, an oscillating switch circuit is located in the control and/or switching device (9) in order to generate constant pulse signals. Following this is an adjustable pulse modulation switching circuit for altering the pulse signals for controlling a power end stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventors: David Macher, Heinz Zorn
  • Patent number: 6060693
    Abstract: A glove liner is provided with heating units placed at the fingertips to provide heat to the fingers. The heating units are encased in an electrically insulating material and wires which are covered with an electrically insulating and flexible material connect the heating units in series with a battery pack on the wrist of the wearer. The heating units and the wires are placed on the palm side of the lining and the heating units contact the fingers directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventor: Cameron Brown
  • Patent number: 6054692
    Abstract: In a heating device used for melting snow on a road, a roof or the like, or for room heating of in-door facilities, in order to heat a to-be-heated or heated object uniformly over its entire area and enable to utilize effectively a PTC heater, a heat diffusing plate 14 for diffusing heat generated from a heat generating body 16 is arranged on an upper face of the heat insulating member 12 and the heating body 16 is arranged in a recess portion 13 installed on its upper face. The heating body 16 is constituted by inserting a heat generating element 4 mounted with heat radiating plates 5 into a vessel 2 enclosed with a heat storing agent 3 of a latent heat absorbing type in a state in which the heat generating element is brought into contact with the heat storing agent 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignees: Takehiko Hitomi, Mitsukazu Ogawa
    Inventors: Takehiko Hitomi, Mitsukazu Ogawa, Toshio Saburi
  • Patent number: 6049063
    Abstract: A method of heating a surface in which a wire mesh or netting heating element is spread evenly over or just under an area to be heated, and through which an electrical current is driven. The two ends of the heating element are connected to the secondary terminals of a transformer, which converts the supply voltage to a low and safe level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventor: Nicholas Everard Ashby Barber
  • Patent number: 6043468
    Abstract: A carbon heater comprising heater members (11, 111, 121 . . . 161, 212, 222, 315, 325 . . . 345, 411, 515, 612) in which a plurality of carbon fiber bundles having a plurality of carbon fibers whose diameter is 5 to 15 .mu.m bundled are woven into a longitudinally elongated shape such as a wire shape or a tape shape and the impurity content is less than 10 ppm in ashes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignees: Toshiba Ceramics Co., Ltd., Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Eiichi Toya, Masahiko Ichishima, Tomio Konn, Tomohiro Nagata, Shigeru Yamamura, Norihiko Saito, Kouji Teraoka, Takeshi Inaba, Hiroyuki Honma, Ken Nakao, Takanori Saito, Hisaei Osanai, Toshiyuki Makiya
  • Patent number: 6018143
    Abstract: A portable, thermal bag for containing a food product, such as pizza. The bag has top and bottom panels and is closed along both sides and at the rear end. The front end is open to permit insertion and removal of the food product. The top and bottom panels each have an outer cover layer and an inner cover layer, and an electric resistance wire between the cover layers. The resistance wires may be plugged into the cigarette lighter of a delivery vehicle to keep the food product warm. A thermostat is placed in the center of the top panel to control the temperature. The bag has a quick release connector which may also be plugged into a low voltage transformer in a restaurant where several bags may be kept before being used to carry a pizza in a delivery vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Inventor: Robert Check
  • Patent number: 6005232
    Abstract: An electrical heating cable in which at least two elongate conductors are separated by an insulating spacer and are contacted by at least one elongate resistive heating strip. The heating strip, which contacts alternately the first conductor and the second conductor at contact points which are longitudinally spaced apart along the length of the strip and along the length of each of the conductors, is made from a conductive polymer composition which exhibits PTC behavior. The conductors are concentric stranded wires having a lay length L of at most 20 mm or a lay angle .beta. of at least 11.degree., or a lay length L of at most 20 mm and a lay angle .beta. of at least 10.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Raychem Corporation
    Inventors: Aron K. Janvrin, Glen W. Osterhout
  • Patent number: 6002117
    Abstract: A heating cord utilizes a non-heating core conductor that is wrapped with a high temperature insulator. The high temperature insulator is wrapped with a heat resistant insulator, wherein the heat resistant insulator is spirally wound with a heat generating wire. Finally, an insulation sheath covers entire embodiment forming a heat-generating cord. The core conductor and the heat generating wire are connected, forming a single electronic circuit wherein the electric current flowing along the core conductor flows in the opposite direction of the electric current flowing along the heat generating wire. As a result, the opposing electromagnetic fields generated by the opposing flows of electric current neutralize each other and function to reduce electromagnetic field emissions generally known to be harmful to humans. The present design allows safe operation well above the approximate 100 watt limitation inherent in designs that utilize resistive, heating-generating core elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Inventor: Il Young Pak
  • Patent number: 5998772
    Abstract: A system of interconnected heating conductors, suitable for preventing freezing of water lines in an aircraft for example, includes a plurality of heater units (1, 12, 14) electrically coupled together by respective extension cables (3) and electrical coupling elements (42). Each heater unit comprises one or more heating conductor bands, tapes or strips (2, 21, 22) connected to respective connection modules (5, 51, 52, 52', 53) at the ends thereof. The connection modules may connect together several heater bands within one heater unit, and may connect the terminal ends of the heater bands of one heater unit to the extension cables by which several respective heater units may be connected together. Each connection module includes a housing (6) enclosing an inner chamber (61) therein, and at least one electrical connector element (7) such as a crimpable connector fixed within the housing (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: Safa Kirma, Heinz Stoever, Joachim Pfeiff, Wolfgang Erdmann
  • Patent number: 5986237
    Abstract: A method for thawing frozen road culverts. The first step involves positioning an electrically conductive cable in a road culvert prior to an ice blockage occurring. A connection end of the electrically conductive cable is anchored in an accessible location. The second step involves connecting a power source to the connection end of the electrically conductive cable after an ice blockage of the road culvert has occurred and supplying power to the electrically conductive cable, such that energy generated by power flowing through the electrically conductive cable causes a flow path to be created through the ice blockage in the road culvert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Iceworm International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Laurel Sterling, Rudiger Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5981910
    Abstract: A heated thermal filter cover maintains a fluid filter, and fluid within the filter, above a gelling temperature of the fluid. The filter cover includes a soft or flexible receptacle which is generally circular in top plan and an electrical resistance wire. The receptacle includes a circular wall and a bottom which define an upwardly opening chamber sized to receive the filter. A resistance wire is placed inside the chamber, preferably at the bottom of the chamber and adjacent the inner surface of the wall. Lead wires connect the resistance wire to a source of electricity, such as the electrical system of a truck or a battery. The wall and bottom of the receptacle are both made of two plies of fleece coated fabric, the two plies being assembled together so that the fleece surfaces face each other so that the wall and bottom of the receptacle will insulate the chamber. The outer ply is preferably a fleece backed vinyl and the inner ply is preferably a thermal fleece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventors: Wayne Williams, Phyllis Williams
  • Patent number: 5981911
    Abstract: A method is provided for heating the surface of a food receptacle to heat the food contained therein. The method comprises, providing a laminated composite heater element, impermeable to water. The heater element is disposed on the surface of the food receptacle and is heated at prescribed intervals and temperatures effective to heat the receptacle surface and thereby heating the food contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Thermicon Systems International
    Inventors: Charles G. Miller, John A. Rolls
  • Patent number: 5977517
    Abstract: An electrically heated vest which is comprised of interchangeable designed modules including at least one heating element, a removable wiring harness, a machine washable shell, and a power cord with thermostat. The interchangeable modules are anatomically shaped and identically sized. The modules are fastened to the vest via snaps, buttons, VELCRO.RTM., or equivalent. The wiring harness is removable from the vest and has quick disconnects for the modules and power cord. The vest is machine washable, has mating fasteners for the heating elements, and an inner liner and outer shell between which the modules are attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Douglas Martin Grosjean
  • Patent number: 5974226
    Abstract: A heated power cable for oil wells providing controllable, variable power output and heater redundancy. Heating elements are electrically and thermally insulated within the same armor in a manner that permits the heating elements to direct heat to the oil in the well, while simultaneously protecting the power conductors from excess heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventor: Brent Shaffer
  • Patent number: 5965050
    Abstract: A heating element is formed of graphite. The heating element has a curved shape. The heating element is capable of resisting electricity to generate heat. A method for forming the heating element comprises the steps of: forming a plurality of graphite heating element segments, each segment having a curved shape; and assembling the plurality of graphite heating element segments to form a heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Vacuum Furnace Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Fred W. Ripley, David Rinz
  • Patent number: 5961869
    Abstract: An improved plastic heating element of the type including comprising an elongate web of flexible, electrically conductive plastic, having two electrodes embedded therein extending longitudinally adjacent each side edge. An electrically insulating adhesive layer covers the surfaces of the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventor: O. Stephan Irgens
  • Patent number: 5945020
    Abstract: There is provided a laminated heating structure comprising a molding layer (A) made of a thermotropic liquid crystal polymer, a conductive layer (B) for heating a protective coating layer (C) by applying an electric current therethrough, and the protective coating layer (C), provided that the layers (A), (B) and (C) are laminated in this order, and an inexpensive laminated heating structure excellent in heat resistance, dimensional accuracy and mechanical strength, reduced in electric power consumption, and shortened in build-up time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikio Kuroda, Motomi Nogiwa, Yoshiharu Ogawa, Kazunori Hosomi
  • Patent number: 5938963
    Abstract: A gasket shaped heater for placement between parting surfaces of component housings of engines, gear housings, differential housings and similar structures. The heater preheats the components to facilitate cold weather starting or operation thereof. In one form of the invention the heater is semi-permanently attached to a parting surface of the component housing and has an outer metallic surface which interfaces with the standard gasket located between the connected components. In another form of the invention, the heater takes the place of the standard gasket normally interposed between the parting surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventor: Peter G. Tanis
  • Patent number: 5935474
    Abstract: The invention pertains to flexible heating elements with carbon fiber resistive elements and can be used independently for heating greenhouses, domestic and industrial premises and as a component in other devices such as heaters. The invention also concerns a method of manufacturing the flexible heating elements in question. An electrical heater is a resistive element in the form of a bundle of carbon fibers; an insulating first layer made from a heat-conducting material in the form of a winding or braid, and a second layer made from polymer material; current supply elements each of which has three pairs of lobes. One of these pairs secures the end of the resistive element freed from the electrical insulation between the tip and a section of the first insulating layer; the second compresses the second electrically insulating layer; the third secures the insulating tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: R-Amtech International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gennady Porfirievich Grischenkov, Petr Alexeevich Korenev, Igor Anatolievich Kozlov, Vladimir Arkadievich Vjuchkov, Andrei Borisovich Tkachenko, Leonid Gurievich Shusharin
  • Patent number: 5920022
    Abstract: A musical instrument warmer including a horn in combination with a cover for warming. A warming means is positioned around the horn for heating. The warming means is provided with an electrical power source for activation. Whereby, providing power to the warming means raises the temperature of the warming means for heating the valves when temperatures being below 32.degree. Fahrenheit. Lastly, the cover has a body member with a front side and a rear side. The body member is formed by attaching two layers of a fabric. The front side of the body member has a cone-like portion projecting outwardly. The body member is adapted to be removably mounted onto the horn when the heating means is positioned on the horn. The body member retains heat generated by the warming means therein, when the warming means is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Inventor: Henry Ashwood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5919386
    Abstract: A purge manifold assembly, which can be used in a gas purged immersion heater, includes a housing having a vessel wall having an aperture extending therethrough. A purge manifold is located adjacent the vessel wall. The purge manifold includes an aperture extending therethrough and colinear with the vessel wall aperture, a bore extending in the purge manifold, in a direction approximately normal to the purge manifold aperture, and a port communicating the bore with the purge manifold aperture. A fitting body extends into the vessel wall aperture and the purge manifold aperture. The fitting body includes a longitudinally extending through bore and a port communicating with the through bore. The port also communicates with the port of the purge manifold. In this way, a purge gas is allowed to flow through a sheath enclosing a heater wire held in the housing of the gas purged immersion heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Lufran Incorporated
    Inventor: Joseph E. James
  • Patent number: 5910267
    Abstract: An infrared heating element of the present invention includes a facing (preferably a fiberglass cloth) which is cut to a desired shape and size, an insulating blanket of the same shape and size as the facing, a heating filament sandwiched between the facing and the insulating blanket. The insulating blanket, which is preferably a ceramic fiber blanket, is rigidized by soaking the blanket is a rigidizing solution, such as a colloidal silica solution, The step of rigidizing the blanket provides at least one face of blanket which is impregnated with the rigidizing solution and a core which remains free of rigidizing solution. While the insulating properties of the blanket at the surfaces are reduced by the rigidizing, the insulating properties of the core of the blanket are not substantially affected.The heating element is included in a portable dryer for use in drying items such as screen printed articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Inventor: Jesse C. Stricker
  • Patent number: 5910266
    Abstract: The invention is in the field of electrical resistance heaters, especially heaters for tubes, pipes, or flexible hose. More particularly, the invention is directed to an electrical heater formed as a strip that is permanently set in the shape of a helix. According to an aspect of the invention, an electrical heater is provided comprising a flexible electrical insulation strip bounded by a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, wherein the flexible electrical insulation strip is permanently set as a helix such that the first longitudinal edge is adjacent to the second longitudinal edge; and, a flexible electrical heating element encapsulated within the electrical insulation strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: The B.F. Goodrich Company
    Inventor: Darryl W. Jones
  • Patent number: 5897806
    Abstract: An adaptor device for connecting a sheathed heater with a power supply terminal wherein an end of a heater wire of the sheathed heater and an end of a lead wire are inserted into an adaptor sleeve and the ends of the heater wire and the lead wire in the adaptor sleeve are connected by a flexible wire. The flexible wire is a stranded wire or in the form of a wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Sakaguchi Dennetsu Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5891189
    Abstract: A new heating band device for providing both heat and pressure to sore muscles and sprains. The inventive device includes an elongate elastomeric band member for wrapping around a body part and an elongate heating coil member embedded in a serpentine arrangement within the band member. A hook member secures the heating band device in place on the body part. A temperature control switch selectively controls the heat output of the heating coil member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Inventor: Joe R. Payne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5883363
    Abstract: In order to provide a heating mantle so composed that fixing and unfixing work can be carried out simply and easily and in addition a good thermal uniformity can be obtained, the heating mantle is fabricated by a method, by which sewing by means of a sewing machine is carried out on a sheet-shaped heat resistant and heat insulating core member, using a heating wire, which is a yarn of metal fine wires, for a lower yarn and a glass yarn for an upper yarn; a predetermined heating wire pattern is formed on a surface of the core member; and a layered body consisting of the core member with the heating wire and covering members made of glass cloth, which are laid on upperside and underside thereof, is enclosed by a sack-shaped cover member.By the heating mantle thus constructed winding around a piping is simple and easy and there is no risk that deviation of the heating wire takes place so that a good thermal uniformity with respect to the piping can be exhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignees: Nichias Corporation, Thermos Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Motoyoshi, Kohei Taguchi
  • Patent number: 5883364
    Abstract: The clean room heating jacket comprises an inner liner and an outer cover formed from flexible, static-dissipative, substantially particle-free fabric, an intermediate layer of resilient, substantially fiber-free insulative material and a flexible heating element disposed between the inner liner and the intermediate insulative layer. The inner liner, intermediate insulative layer and outer cover are configured to conform generally to the shape and size of the processing vessel for which the heating jacket is adapted. The jacket is of clamshell design wherein relatively opposing free edge portions are disposed in closely spaced relation to one another when the jacket is in a closed position and in generally planar, outwardly spaced relation to one another when the jacket is in an open position. A flap is attached to the outer cover in overlying relation to one of the free edge portions, and VELCROC.RTM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Inventors: Rob A. Frei, Heath Watson, Clark Garn, Steve Hall, Larry Marcum
  • Patent number: 5854472
    Abstract: An low-voltage heating system that produces a reduced magnetic field and which uses insulated copper wires, or equivalents, as heating elements. Its low operating temperature, robustness and safety enable the system to be installed in floors and walls for the general heating of buildings, and in outdoor pavements, for snow-melting purposes. The feeder busbars are configured to reduce the magnetic field around the feeder. A monitoring network continually checks the integrity of the heating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Sperika Enterprises Ltd.
    Inventor: Theodore Wildi
  • Patent number: 5824996
    Abstract: A soft and flexible thin heating element is made of strong, light and non-metallic yarns. The heating element comprises electrically conductive carbon/graphite containing fibers, woven or stranded into the strips, ropes, sleeves or strands of threads. The selected areas of the heating element core are modified to impart additional electrical properties. An optional positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material is incorporated into said selected areas. The electrode conductors are attached to said heating element core which is electrically connected in parallel or in series. The heating element core is shaped in a desired pattern. The whole assembly is sealed by at least one electrically insulating layer which envelops the strips, ropes, sleeves, or strands of threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Thermosoft International Corp
    Inventors: Arkady Kochman, Arthur Gurevich
  • Patent number: 5804798
    Abstract: A thermal protector having a fixed plate with a fixed contact point at one end, a movable plate having a movable contact point at a position corresponding to the fixed contact point. A bimetal plate which bends when a temperature exceeds a specified level deforms movable plate so as separate the contacts. There are first and second terminals connecting the fixed and movable plates with an external circuit and a heating element connected to the first and second terminals to maintain an open-circuited state. The heating element is flexible and is arranged so as to be deformed following the deformation of the bimetal plate and to always physically contact always with the bimetal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Uchiya Thermostat Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Takeda
  • Patent number: 5780811
    Abstract: This diesel particulate filter comprises of a composite filter plate composed of thin filter plates formed out of ceramic fiber, and a latticed heating wire, and metal nets. The composite filter plate is bent into a bellows-like structure so as to increase a cross-sectional area of an exhaust gas passage. The latticed heating wire is formed to a current self-controlling type heating wire out of a material containing Ni as a main component the resistance value of which increases as the temperature rises. The particulates collected by the thin filter plates are burnt by supplying an electric current to the latticed heating wire. When a high-temperature region occurs on the thin filter plates, the level of an electric current flowing to the portion of the latticed heating wire which corresponds to the same region is reduced. Consequently, all the regions of the thin filter plates are heated at a uniform temperature, and the melting and breakage of the thin filter plates do not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Isuzu Ceramics Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Kawamura
  • Patent number: 5780820
    Abstract: A film-like heater which has a graphite film made of a polymer film baked at a temperature higher than 2,000 .degree. C. and having a good thermal conductivity, a good flexibility and a good resistance to high temperature, so that it is applicable to a thin face heat-retaining or heating means having various designs such as a seat heater fittable to a body shape, a vapor deposition boat operable at a high temperature and a compact heating device or apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daido Komyoji, Takao Inoue, Naomi Nishiki, Junji Ikeda
  • Patent number: 5760376
    Abstract: A unitary self-supporting heater element is sinuous and has at least one generally U-shaped section. The heater element is contained within a hollow open ended case. The resulting heater is suitable for explosion-proof applications, small, lightweight and inexpensive to manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Cox 3 Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Schuyler
  • Patent number: 5714738
    Abstract: The flexible insulated heater includes a heater mat surrounded by an insulation jacket. The heater mat is preferably made of two layers of fiberglass reinforced rubber sheets laminated together with resistive heater wires sandwiched between the laminated sheets. The heater mat is formed with a curvature and size to fit snugly around the peripheral surface of the pipe that is to be heated. A jacket of thermally insulative material, such as a polymer foam, is molded over the external surface of the heater mat. The insulated jacket holds the heat generated by the heater mat from escaping radially outward, and it protects against burns to persons who might touch the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignees: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Co., MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Dana S. Hauschulz, Daniel E. Hilton
  • Patent number: 5710408
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an ice and snow melting system. At least one sensor is provided, with each sensor being configured for sensing a temperature or moisture associated with an ambient environment and providing a signal indicative thereof. A heater for melting the ice and snow includes at least two electrical conductors associated therewith. An automatic controller is connected to the at least one sensor, and includes a ground fault circuit interrupter in communication with at least two of the electrical conductors associated with the heater. The ground fault circuit interrupter detects a ground fault condition associated with the heater and provides a signal indicative thereof. The controller selectively controls operation of the heater dependent upon the sensor signal and/or the ground fault circuit interrupter signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: MSX, Inc.
    Inventor: Thaddeus M. Jones
  • Patent number: 5686005
    Abstract: A computer pad is heated for reducing repetitive motion stress and increasing comfort for a user and for providing potential therapeutic treatment by warming the hand(s) and/or wrist(s) of the user while operating a computer input device such as a mouse or a keyboard. The pad includes an electrical heating device such as a resistance-type heating element embedded in it. If a mouse is used as the input device, it can be either a stationary mouse or a conventional movably positioned mouse that is operated on the level section of the top surface of the pad's upper layer. If a stationary mouse or a keyboard is utilized, the user's hand(s) and/or wrist(s) can be supported by a suitably shaped area within an elevated section of the working surface of the pad. The lower layer of the pad may conveniently include a non-skid bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Inventor: Dennis E. Wright, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5686003
    Abstract: A new deicing technology is described which utilizes the actuating properties of shape memory alloys (SMAs) to debond ice accretion formed on a surface. A thin sheet of SMA material is mounted to the icing prone surface to perform the force and displacement combination that can debond the ice. The SMA sheet is activated to expand or contract causing shearing and peeling of the ice. An SMA actuator portion located aft of the icing area can be used to pull the sheet over a ribbed underlay and grooved bands which generates a strain field that severs the ice's adhesive bond. Two-way shape memory action and natural ice latent heat powering are used in different modes of operation to reduce the power requirements and the structural complexity of the deicing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Innovative Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Ingram, Joseph J. Gerardi
  • Patent number: 5676872
    Abstract: A heating element has a flat, flexible strip of electrically insulating material around which is wound a conductor wire. A layer of fixing varnish covers the turns of the conductor wire and the flat strip. Two clips attached to the ends of the strip provide electrical contact with the conductor wire and serve to attach two electricity connection cables. The heating element can be bent without this affecting its ohm value since the fixing varnish prevents the turns of the conductor wire from moving when the strip is being bent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Bobinajes Nugar, S.L.
    Inventor: Manuel Garcia-Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 5674423
    Abstract: A computer mouse pad is heated for reducing repetitive motion stress for a user and for providing potential therapeutic treatment for the user's hand and wrist while operating a mouse thereon. The pad has a resistance-type heating element which is embedded in the rubber material of the pad. The mouse is either a stationary mouse or a conventional movably positioned mouse and is operated on the level section of the top surface of the pad. If a stationary mouse is utilized, the user's hand and wrist are support by an elevated section of the top surface of the pad. A non-skid surface is on the bottom of the pad. A conventional electric power outlet is utilized as the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Inventor: Dennis E. Wright, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5674424
    Abstract: An in-situ thermal desorption system which combines thermal desorption and vacuum extraction to separate organic compounds from in place contaminated soils is disclosed. A "heating blanket" desorption unit is applied directly to the surface of the hydrocarbon contaminated soil. The heating blanket assembly comprises of four basic components: a surface heating element, a thermal insulating mat, a vacuum collection system, and a vapor barrier. The surface heater, when energized, initiates a thermal front which moves down through the soil by thermal diffusion. As the soil is heated, organic compounds and water vapor are desorbed and removed from the soil matrix. A vapor collection system including a blower is fitted to the vapor barrier to establish a slight negative pressure inside the modular heating blanket units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Icko Eric Timothy Iben, William Alan Edelstein, Richard Blair Sheldon, Scott Robert Blaha, William Bennett Silverstein, Carl Richard Scatena, Gary Roland Brown
  • Patent number: 5658481
    Abstract: A resistance heating element comprises a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material having 1-60% by weight of glass fibers and having 1-20, preferably 5-15% by weight of steel fibers. The heating element can be prepared from thermoplastic granules which are filled with glass fibers and steel fibers and which have been obtained by melt pultrusion of continuous fiber strands and cutting to granule length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernhard Pfeiffer, Anne Texier
  • Patent number: 5655328
    Abstract: A fishing rod handle heater apparatus includes a flexible sheet-like housing assembly which includes a first end and a second end. The flexible sheet-like housing assembly includes a lock notch which partially extends from the second end toward the first end. A first connector assembly is attached to the first end of the flexible sheet-like housing assembly. A second connector assembly is attached to the second end of the flexible sheet-like housing assembly. The second connector assembly is complementary to the first connector assembly. An electrical resistance heater assembly is housed within the flexible sheet-like housing assembly. A battery-power assembly is electrically connected to the electrical resistance heater assembly, and a manually-operated switch assembly is supported by the battery-power assembly for controlling flow of electric power from the battery-power assembly to the electrical resistance heater assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventors: James S. Childs, Charles M. McLynden
  • Patent number: 5648003
    Abstract: A protective device that provides protection against infection by accidental skin puncturing. The device includes a flexible expanse, at least a portion of which has a multi-layer construction that includes (i) inner and outer, flexible, electrically conductive layers, and (ii) a flexible insulative sheet separating said conductive layers. A voltage applied across the two layers is effective to heat the tip of a needle, scalpel, or the like, when such pierces the cover, to a temperature effective to destroy at least a portion of the infectious agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Inventors: David H. Liang, Hank C. K. Wuh
  • Patent number: 5641421
    Abstract: An electrical heating system uses heating elements made of ribbons of amorphous metallic alloys. The heating elements have a large area using long and wide ribbons, to achieve good heat transfer to the surroundings, that is low thermal resistance. The area of the heating elements and thus the thermal resistance is determined according to the desired thermal power, under the constraint of a low operating temperature, that is a temperature well below the embrittlement temperature of the amorphous alloy used in the heating elements. The operating temperature is preferably kept low enough so as not to generate benzopyrene or other unhealthy or ecologically unfavorable fumes or gases. The thin ribbons with low thermal resistance also have a fast heating constant, that is the heater reaches its steady state temperature in a short time. The electrical heating system uses low cost insulation and support materials, that is materials intended for use at low temperatures only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Inventors: Vladimir Manov, Eliezer Adar, Mark Geller, Evgeni Sorkine, Iosef Margolin
  • Patent number: 5637247
    Abstract: A flexible waterproof mat has an elongated serpentine heating element extending throughout the middle thereof. The heating element is divided into portions and the mat is divided into a segments separated by hinges. Each hinge consists of interlocking flat knuckles formed by the mat. Each portion of the heating element is located in each segment of the mat and is provided with fingers that extend through the knuckles. An electrically conductive pintle extends transversely through the interlocking flat knuckles in order to electrically connect the portions of the heating element together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Inventor: Joseph Flynn, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5632919
    Abstract: A insulation system for providing temperature control of a surface includes a flexible heating element, conformable to the surface. Insulating material is disposed adjacent to the heating element. Circuitry is provided for sensing the temperature of the surface. A monitor senses the temperature of the surface and selectively controls the temperature of the heating element in response to the monitoring process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: T.G.M., Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. MacCracken, Janet MacCracken, Richard E. MacCracken, Millard B. Rice
  • Patent number: 5626780
    Abstract: A handgrip with a built-in heater for a motorcycle constituted by a hollow cylindrical handgrip body, wherein a flexible printed circuit heater is wound around an outer periphery of a synthetic resin inner piece of a substantially hollow cylindrical shape with a hollow cylindrical or peripheral portion slotted, and a cladding rubber layer is integrally molded thereon to cause the heater to extend between the inner piece and the cladding rubber layer. The heater is wound over a range covering a half circumference or more but less than a full circumference of the inner piece. The cladding rubber layer is molded in such a form that a region where the heater is not wound faces parting positions of mold halves for forming the cladding rubber layer so as to prevent the occurrence of turn-ups and creases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Ogata